Automatic device for operating and closing discharge doors on mixers



Jan. 25 1927- H. s. SIMPSON AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR OPERATING AND CLOSING DISCHARGE DOORS 0N MIXERS Filed June 28, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Wm Z Baa

v E Herbert 5, Simpson Jan. 25 1927.

H. s. SIMPSON AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR OPERATING AND CLOSING DISCHARGE DOORS 0N MIXERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1924 259 1927' H. s. SIMPSON AUTOMATIdDEVICE FOR OPERATING AND CLOSING DISCHARGE voons bu ruxsns Filed June 28, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Herbert 8. Simpson Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT s. smrson, or CHICAGO, Irmmors.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR OPERATING AND CLOSING DISCHARGE DOORS ON MIXERS.

Application filed June 28, 1924. Serial No. 723,053.

This invention relates to an automatically operated door for the bowl or mixing rece-ptacle of mixing machines, and comprises a door thatis secured to the bottom of the bowl and that is automatically opened and closedduring the operation of the machine.

I It is an object of this invention to provide suitable mechanism for automatically opening said door, retaining the same open for a predetermined period for the discharge of the mixed material and then automatically closing the same.

The invention consists of the novel structure hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompan ing' drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this in vention, and in which similar reference numerals refer to simllar features 1n the different views.

Figure 1 is an elevational vew of a mixingmachine involving this invention.

- Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the door operating mechanism with parts shown in different positions in dotted lines.

Figure 4 isa View smilar to Figure 3 illustrating parts in different positions.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the operating mechanism.

Figure 6 is an enlarged bottom plan view of certain-driving mechanism.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the operating counter weight.

Figure 8 is anenlarged top plan view of the driving mechanism for operating the door.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown certain parts of a mixing machine comprising the usual bowl or drum 1 centrally of which extends a shaft 2 upon which the plows and mullers may be supported as is shown in my oo-pending ap li cation, Serial No. 499,620. A 'suita le frame or le 1 may support the bowl' as shown in Figure 1. A bevel gear 3 is secured upon the shaft 2 for rotating the same, and may be termed the driving mechanism, and a worm disk 4 is secured upon the gear 3 forrotation therewith. The gear 3 may be rotated by any suitable co-operating gear and source of power.

A shaft 5 is suitably supported adjacent the Worm disk 4, and a worm gear 6 is secured upon this shaft and meshes with the worm (1151! 4. A sprocket gear 7 is secured upon the end of the shaft 5, and a sprocket chain 8 is trained thereover and also over a larger sprocket gear 9 journalled upon a sha t 10 suitably supported from the bowl 1; This sprocket chain is provided with. laterally projecting studs 11 and 11 equipped with rollers for a purpose that will later appear.

In referring to Figures, it will be observedrtha-t a rod 12 is journalled in depending bearing lugs 13 on the bottom of the bowl and which rest upon the legs 1.

A door 14 is secured upon this rod for normally closing an aperture in the bottom of the bowl. This door consists of a flat portion 14* that fits in the aperture, and

brackets 14" that extends beyond the flat portion and that are secured upon the rod 12 for .rotation therewith. A counter weight 15 is' rigidly secured upon one end of the shaft and is normally in a pendant position for retaining the door in closed position, Upon the other end of the rod 12, the ends of which it will be observed project beyond theirbearings, there is rigidly secured an arm 16 which is pivoted at its lower end to an intermediate link 17 which is adjustable as to its length due to the lower section being screw threaded into the upper portion. The lower end of the link 17 is pivoted to an arm 18 rigidly secured upon a hollow shaft 19' journalled in the legs 1. Thus a form of toggle actin lever is provided. The lower portion of t e link 17 is' provided with a stop portion 20 that overlaps the arm 18 to prevent flexure in the opposite direction.

The hollow shaft 19 extends beyond the bearing legs 1 and upon one end thereof there is secured an arm or bracket 21 rovided with a pair of spaced lugs 22. pon the other end of the hollow shaft there is secured a hub 23 provided with a projecting cam 24 which lies in the pathof the projection 11 on the sprocket chain 8 as shown in Figure 8. I

A shaft 25 is journalled within the hollow I path of the stud 11.- A shorter projection 28 is spaced a short distance to the rear of the stud 27 to form a pocket for receiving erably adjustablymounted on their supdetermined distance of about 90.

ports by means of set screws or the like so as to obtain the proper difference in bal ance with the door.

When the mixing apparatus is in operation the sprocket chain will be rotated for opening and closing the door of the bowl through the action of thestuds 11 and 11*. This door will remain open a predetermined period, depending upon the number and spacing of the studs 11 and 11.

Assuming that the door 14 is closed and the machine is inoperation, the sprocket chain 8 will be continuously driven, and whenthe stud 11 comes around it will engage the projection or finger 27 and rotate the same together with the shaft a lrle- IS will bring the counter weight 29 upon the opposite end of shaft 25 to substantially a vertical position. It will of course be apparent that after the arm 30 of counter weight 29 has travelled about 10 it will engage the upper lug 22 of bracket 21 and rotate the hollow shaft 19. Rotation of the hollow shaft 19 will break the toggle joint 31 between the arm 18 and link 17, which allows the door 14 to drop. The weight of the door acting through the toggle levers will further rotgite the hollow shaft 19 and bring the lower lug 22 on the bracket 21 against the arm 30 of the counter weight 29, causing the same to move beyond dead penter and drop about 10 against the upper.

%he rotation of the hollowshaft 19 will bring the cam 24 in the path of the roller 11 as shown in Fi re4. The roller 11 will hence engage ,t e cam 24 and cause it and the hollow shaft to rotate in the opposite direction. This reverse rotation of' the hollow shaft 19 will cause the counter weight 29 to rot-ate back about 15 throu h.

the upper lug 22 on bracket 21, bring t e same beyond dead center so that it Wlll be free to drop. As the counter weight thus begins to drop b gravity the arm 30 there'- of will enga e t elower lug 22and rotate the hollow s aft to the position shown in full lines in Figure 3. During this drop of the counter weights the toggle lever ,will 1 raise the door to its closed position with the toggle levers locked by the stop 20. The door .14 may also be manually opened by lifting the counter weight 29 as is obvious.

It will be apparent that the gravity acting motion is such that should an obstruction tend to prevent the door closing the counter weight continues to exert an upward pressure until the obstruction is removed eitherby mechanical vibrations or by the operator.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a mixing machine, a bowl, a door in the bottom of the bowl, a rotatable rod for supporting said door, a pair of independent concentric shafts rotatably supported beconnection with said counter weight, a cam secured upon the outer concentric shaft, a finger secured upon the inner concentric shaft, adjacent said .cam, and a sprocket chain moving between said'cam and finger. and having laterally projecting studs for alternately operating said cam and finger for the purpose set forth.

2. In a mixing'machine, a bowl, a door in the bottom of the bowl, a rod for pivotally supporting said door, a toggle mechanism connected to said rod, and means for actuating said toggle mechanism for controlling said door.

3. In a mixing machine, a bowl, a door in the bottom of the bowl, a rod for pivotally supporting said door, toggle mechanism connected to said rod, and means for periodically actuating said toggle mechanism during the operation of said machine.

4. In a mixing machine provided with a receptacle having a door operating mechanism for said machine, a rotatable rod for sdpporting said door, a shaft, toggle mechanism connecting said rod and shaft, and means actuated by said operating mechanism for periodically rotating saidshaft in opposite directions for opening and closing said door.

5. In a mixing machine, provided with a mixing chamber, a door leading to said chamber, operating mechanism for said machine, o crating toggle mechanism for opening an closing said door, and a member continuously driven by said machine operating mechanism for periodically operating said toggle mechanism.

6. In a mixing machine, having a mixing receptacle provided with a door, a rotatable rod for supporting said door, a shaft, toggle mechanism connecting said rod and shaft, a second shaft, a lost motion connection between said shaft comprising a counter weight, and means for periodically operating said shafts in opposite directions.

7. In a mixing machine having a mixing receptacle provided with a door, driving mechanism for said machine. operating mechanism for said door including a rotatable counter weight, swingable beyond dead center during the opening of said door, and means for swingingsaid Weight in the opposite direction beyond dead center for automatically closing said door.

8. In a mixing machine having a mixing receptacle provided with a-door, a rod for supporting said door, a shaft, toggle levers connecting said rod and shaft, a second rotatable shaft and having a lost motion connection with said first shaft, and means operated by the driving mechanism for rotating said shafts a predetermined amount in opposite directions. I

. 9. In a mixing machine having a mixing receptacle provided with a door, driving mechanism for said machine, operating mechanism for said door, means driven by said driving mechanism for initially actuating said operating mechanism and gravity acting means for completing the actuation of said operating means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

HERBERT s. SIMPSON. 

